Show Wll A T TA A PT Both Parties Parties' to to Coal Controversy r y Urged rg d to to N Negotiate oh op Basis Basis as s' s of f J Findings by Mayor Majority aj J ri 9 NE V Sr l R k a ch h 23 The The ge gm gene eral scale committee on mitt representing the anthracite co coal miners b by a virtually fy unanimous Li vote yote ote decided today to ta r re remain remain main at work after April 1 pending negotiation negotiation ne ne- of a new wage wag agreement providing the mine owners agree to tomake tomake tomake make any wage award retroactive to that date The decision of the committee willbe will willbe willbe be handed this afternoon to the subcommittee subcommittee sub sub- committee of operators and miners which w was s appointed to negotiate the new new wage agreement The present contract contract con can tract will expire March 31 Q WASHINGTON March 23 W President Wilson Nilson today ma made e public a a i letter which he has written to the coal miners miner and operators in which he d de de declares clares Glares that the majority report of the bituminous ous coal commission is the one ont upon which the new new agreement between between be be- be tween the miners and operators must musi be based The president urged that the miners miner and the operators rs meet in conference at the earliest possible moment and draw a anew new wa wanes wa agreement based on tb the maj majority report In order that order that th the public may may no longer be worried over the question of a coal shortage REGULATION 1 The president nt in his letter declared that on and after April 1 all government government govern govern- ment fixed prices prices' on coal w will 11 be suspended suspended suspended sus sus- and that no further efforts will be made to regulate prices He gives warning however to the operators operators operators operators' oper oper- against profiteering Because the report of ot the committee was not unanimous it had no no power to fix prices the president stated MINERS WILL NEGOTIATE John L Li Lewis Lewis president t of the United Mine Workers of ot America Ina in ina ina a formal tonna statement expressed disappointment that the president had af affirmed at- at firmed the majority report of the commission but said the miners were ready and willing to ta respond to the thes' thes s' s suggestion that they hey participate in a Joint wage conference REFUSE SHORTER DAY In In refusing the demand the the- demand of the mi miners ml- ml ners a thirty four h hour ur week the majority of or the commission said that If the workday were shortened by one hour It would be equivalent to an additional cost of more than The minority report of John 3 P White the miners' miners representative held out for a higher Increase ase for tor all allday allday allday day labor and monthly men than were granted by the majority but he concurred in the recommendation for tor fora tora a 24 per cent ton increase on pick and machine mining tiia report was transmitted to the operators and miners miners mi ml- ners by the president for their mation MAJORITY REPORT SUMMARY The decision of the tho majority majority Hen Hen Henry ry M M. Robinson representing the public pub pub- lic and Rembrandt Peale representing represent represent- ing the operators is is summarized as follows i Unless otherwise ordered the terms and conditions of or the Wasl Washington agreement of at 1917 continue The H 14 per cent increase 11 rt wages fixed by the fuel administration is eliminated on March h 31 31 and re replaced replaced replaced re- re placed by this award which is on ona a 27 per cent basis The agreements drafted under this award are to take effect April 1 I 1920 1320 I Continued on page 9 1 I WILSON W ASKS Continued from page 1 1 March and continue until March 31 1922 in other words the the miners miner do not get their demand for termination of ot contracts contracts contracts con con- tracts in the fall The Tho mining prices for mining mine- mine run coal pick and machine are ad advanced advanced ad- ad 24 cents t tAll I All d day y labor and monthly men are advanced ad a a. dollar a a. day except trappers and other boys who are advanced advanced advanced ad ad- 63 53 cents a a. da day All rates for tor yardage and room turning turning ar are ac advanced vanc d 20 per cent T The fulfilment of ot all Joint and district district district dis dis- aTe agreements ments are to be guaranteed by the officers of ot the International or organization or- or The Tho six-hour six day 11 and the five-day five week are not gr granted the hour eight-hour day Is retained The practice of ot car pushing stands but with recommendations for careful consideration of ot W ways S 'S and means for tor forthe forthe th the introduction of ot ameliorating tices COMMISSIONS COMMISSIONS SET UP A commission is la set up for tor the the- central central cen ecu competitive field to handle questions questions questions ques ques- of ot differentials In rate and certaIn certain certain tain other matters If It the recommendation of ot the tho presidents president's presidents president's presidents president's dents dent's industrial conference are adopted adopt adopt- ed in regard to Industrial tribunals and b boards ards of Inquiry this machinery Is to tobe tobe tobe be put into use uso in the coal industry Otherwise Other a R. special board is to be beset beset beset set Up Explosives are arc to be furnished d miners miners miners min min- ers Sit t Jt cost ost Special boards arc are to be set up for tor j iti i 1 t. t the Kanawha Paint Creek and Cabin Creek Creele fields for district No Ko 12 Illinois Illinois Illinois Illi Illi- nois also for the state of Washington each commission to handle f specific local conditions Other r recommendations by the maJority majority majority ma ma- la lay stress upon the necessity for for- storing coal for winter use during the summer summer months State and federal Institutions and departments are urged ed to take this action as as' as aswell well as householders public utility corporations corporations corporations corpo corpo- rations and private concerns Railroads Railroads Rail nail roads are ask asked d to cooperate in the work and the Interstate commerce commission is urged to aid In the so solution solution solution so- so lution of ot the transportation problem The report urges the federal reserve board to permit reserve banks to Ja- Ja fa favor favor vor as eligible for rediscount paper drawn against coal In storage CAR DISTRIBUTION Control of ot car car distribution among mines to the end that no particular mine or mines be given preference preter-ence is recommended as s. s well as abolishment of ot the practice whereby purchasing agents of ot carriers can use com company pan control over car supply to force down the price of railway fuel The Interstate interstate interstate Inter inter- state commerce commerce commission would have jurisdiction over these details In connection with mine labor Jabor the ther r report port says camp any housing conditions conditions con con- on- on for miners should be improved Im Jm- Improved proved and approval of ot the Introduction Introduction Introduction Intro Intro- of ot labor saving machinery is expressed Advance on miners' miners pay is discouraged but if it made advances should be without discount directly or Indirectly FORMAL STATEMENT The following statement Is Included in the report In submitting this report particular lar attention is called to the fact tact that herein every effort has hns been made for the protection of ot tho the public not only for the period under which this protection can bo be guaranteed by bythe bythe bythe the executive under the powers granted him by the Lever act but it has been our effort to go 0 Into the tho underlying underlying- causes for high costs and to of offer tel some remedy this this I In order that In the future when the government relaxes its control over overprices overprices overprices I prices there m may y be a a. continuing force at work n the tho public interest COST REDUCTION r We believe It is obvious that unless unless unless un un- un- un less some changes can be bo made toward the tho end of ot reducing costs in coal production and distribution no act of ot congress no order orden of ot the I executive nor any other regulation by constituted authority can In the end provide against the Continuing high costs It It is for this reason that we MS believe be- be lieve that this industry should be placed upon the tho proper basis for more continuous and thus thug more economical economical economical eco eco- production and nd distribution with the result that the cost of oC coal to tho the people will be reduced lV w 4 jf f r r J Jt |